Our global canoe is sinking, Pacific Forum chair tells world leaders
By Pita Ligaiula in Glasgow
“To all leaders here; the message of the Pacific is simple: Our canoe is sinking. “Pick up your buckets and start bailing now before it’s too late.”
That simple message of canoe voyaging and the urgency to bail water was Frank Bainimarama’s message to world leaders that are currently in Glasgow, Scotland this week for COP26.
As...
Athletes call on world leaders to deliver on climate action at COP26 summit
A group of more than 50 Olympians and Paralympians have called on world leaders to deliver on climate action during the COP26 summit in Glasgow in a video backed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The athletes, including Kenyan marathon star Eliud Kipchoge and retired Spanish basketball legend Pau Gasol, warn of the impact of climate change on...
CNMI’s plans to host the Pacific Mini Games in a pandemic
It's been eight years since the Northern Marianas were awarded hosting rights for the 2021 Pacific Mini Games.
Super typhoons, the withdrawal of government support and Covid-19 have combined to throw plenty of caution to the, err, wind - so much so that the event will now take place in 2022.
But with the government back on...
Fiji women impress at latest camp
The Digicel Fiji national women’s team gathered in camp at the end of last month, spending some valuable time together before the players headed back to their respective clubs for the resumption of the Digicel Women’s Super League last weekend.
Twenty-eight players attended the camp at the Fiji Football Association (FFA) Academy in Vatuwaqa, with...
New Zealand return to the top of the World Rugby Men’s rankings
A month after being dethroned by South Africa, New Zealand are back on top of the World Rugby Men’s Rankings.
Saturday’s 54-16 win over Wales earned them 0.39 of a rating point which was enough to take them above the Springboks, who now trail New Zealand by 0.23 of a point.
Fittingly, Beauden Barrett produced a man-of-the-match...
Empty promises not enough, Fiji PM tells COP26
By Pita Ligaiula in Glasgow
Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama took to the podium at the COP26 opening in Glasgow with another brusque and no-nonsense attack against leaders who make pledges without plans, or those he said pursue a policy of appeasement.
Bainimarama dropped no names in his fiery three-minutes address at the first part of the High Level Segment session...
Keeping the 1.5 degrees’ goal alive: World Leaders Summit at COP26
By Pita Ligaiula in Glasgow
The two days World Leaders’ Summit on Climate change opened Monday with UN Secretary General António Guterres calling for greater ambition on mitigation and immediate concrete action to reduce global emissions by 45 percent by 2030.
“The science is clear. We know what to do.
“First, we must keep the goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius alive.
“This...
Pacific Ocean Commissioner calls for ocean protection at COP26
By Pita Ligaiula in Glasgow
Pacific Ocean Commissioner Henry Puna has called on everyone to work together to save the ocean, save ourselves, our children and our future. “This is our legacy.”
Puna made the remarks at the High level launch of the ‘Third Because the Ocean Declaration’ that was held at the University of Edinburgh on Sunday, as part of...
Disappearing islands force Tuvalu to demand compensation from world polluters
By Pita Ligaiula in Glasgow
Tuvalu’s disappearing islands has led to the tiny Pacific nation to sue major developed nations for the severe damage caused by climate change.
Tuvalu and Antigua and Barbuda signed a pact Sunday to hold large nations accountable for climate change damage.
The development comes as world leaders are meeting in Glasgow for the United Nations Climate...
Tonga’s main island going into lockdown
The Tongan Government has announced that the main island Tongatapu will go into lockdown from midnight after the discovery of the first case of Covid-19 in the Kingdom last week.
The island, where most of the population live, will be going into lockdown from one minute past midnight yesterday. It will stay in place until next Sunday.
RNZ Pacific's correspondent in...